U.S. patent number 10,517,723 [Application Number 15/480,745] was granted by the patent office on 2019-12-31 for staged development devices and methods for transcatheter heart valve delivery.
This patent grant is currently assigned to St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jacob John Daly, Bradley Charles Knippel, Ralph Joseph Thomas, Huisun Wang.
United States Patent |
10,517,723 |
Knippel , et al. |
December 31, 2019 |
Staged development devices and methods for transcatheter heart
valve delivery
Abstract
A delivery device for a collapsible heart valve includes an
operating handle and a catheter assembly. The operating handle
includes a frame defining a movement space therein, a carriage
assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction within the movement
space, and a coupler having locked and unlocked conditions, the
coupler being operatively connected to the carriage assembly for
movement therewith. The catheter assembly includes a shaft around
which a valve-receiving compartment is defined, the shaft being
operatively connected to one of the frame or the carriage assembly,
and a distal sheath operatively connected to the carriage assembly
for movement therewith between a closed condition adapted to
maintain the valve in the compartment and an open condition adapted
to fully deploy the valve.
Inventors: |
Knippel; Bradley Charles (Lino
Lakes, MN), Wang; Huisun (Maple Grove, MN), Thomas; Ralph
Joseph (Champlin, MN), Daly; Jacob John (Blaine,
MN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc. |
St. Paul |
MN |
US |
|
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Assignee: |
St. Jude Medical, Cardiology
Division, Inc. (St. Paul, MN)
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Family
ID: |
44736025 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/480,745 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20170239045 A1 |
Aug 24, 2017 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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14329406 |
Jul 11, 2014 |
9615924 |
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13324782 |
Jul 15, 2014 |
8778019 |
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61384032 |
Sep 17, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
2/2436 (20130101); A61F 2/95 (20130101); A61F
2/966 (20130101); A61F 2/9517 (20200501); A61F
2/962 (20130101); A61F 2002/9534 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
2/24 (20060101); A61F 2/95 (20130101); A61F
2/966 (20130101); A61F 2/962 (20130101) |
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Primary Examiner: Aleman; Sarah W
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz
& Mentlik, LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
14/329,406, filed on Jul. 11, 2014, which is a divisional of U.S.
application Ser. No. 13/234,782, filed on Sep. 16, 2011, now U.S.
Pat. No. 8,778,019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/384,032, filed on Sep. 17, 2010, entitled
"Staged Deployment Devices and Methods for Transcatheter Heart
Valve Delivery," the disclosures of all of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve, the
delivery device comprising: an operating handle, including: a
frame; a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction
relative to the frame; a coupler; and a deployment actuator
constrained relative to the coupler in the longitudinal direction,
the coupler having a locked condition in which the coupler is
connected to the frame in a fixed position and in which rotation of
the deployment actuator moves the carriage assembly in the
longitudinal direction relative to the coupler, and an unlocked
condition in which the coupler, the deployment actuator, and the
carriage assembly are movable together in the longitudinal
direction, the coupler being operatively connected to the carriage
assembly for movement therewith; and a catheter assembly,
including: a first shaft around which a compartment is defined, the
first shaft being operatively connected to the frame, the
compartment being adapted to receive the valve in an assembled
condition; and a distal sheath operatively connected to the
carriage assembly, the distal sheath being moveable between a
closed condition and an open condition, wherein movement of the
carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction moves the distal
sheath between the closed condition and the open condition.
2. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the coupler is
selectively lockable to the frame in any of a plurality of fixed
positions in the longitudinal direction.
3. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a
releasable pin and the frame has a plurality of fixed notches, the
pin being engageable in one of the notches to lock the coupler to
the frame.
4. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the coupler is
selectively lockable to the frame in positions that correspond to
positions of the distal sheath between the closed condition and the
open condition.
5. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the operating handle
further includes a threaded rod extending from the carriage
assembly through the coupler, the deployment actuator being
threadedly engaged with the threaded rod, such that rotation of the
deployment actuator moves the threaded rod in the longitudinal
direction.
6. The delivery device of claim 5, wherein rotation of the
deployment actuator in a first direction moves the carriage
assembly proximally in the longitudinal direction, and rotation of
the deployment actuator in a second direction opposite the first
direction moves the carriage assembly distally in the longitudinal
direction.
7. The delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a latch
mechanism adapted to releasably fix the coupler relative to the
frame at any of a plurality of longitudinal positions.
8. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the operating handle
further includes a resheathing lock having a locked position and an
unlocked position, the resheathing lock in the locked position
limiting movement of the carriage assembly in the longitudinal
direction to a stop position, and the resheathing lock in the
unlocked position permitting movement of the carriage assembly
beyond the stop position, wherein movement of the carriage assembly
to the stop position moves the distal sheath to a condition between
the closed condition and the open condition so that the valve is
not fully deployed.
9. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the frame includes a
slot and the resheathing lock includes a retractable pin that is
engaged in the slot when the resheathing lock is in the locked
position, and a stop member located within the slot defines the
stop position.
10. The delivery device of claim 9, wherein the stop member is
longitudinally moveable within the slot, such that movement of the
stop member changes the location of the stop position relative to
the frame.
11. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the compartment has a
first length and the stop position corresponds to a travel distance
of the carriage assembly, the travel distance being less than the
first length.
12. The delivery device of claim 11, wherein the collapsible
prosthetic heart valve has a second length and the travel distance
is between about 80% and about 90% of the second length.
13. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the catheter assembly
further includes an outer shaft connecting the carriage assembly to
the distal sheath and at least partially surrounding the first
shaft.
14. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the operating handle
further includes a mechanism adapted to move the first shaft
proximally relative to the frame.
15. The delivery device of claim 14, wherein the mechanism includes
a threaded rod operatively connected to the first shaft and
extending in the longitudinal direction, and a nut threadedly
engaged with the threaded rod and longitudinally constrained
relative to the frame.
16. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the catheter assembly
further includes an inner shaft connecting the carriage assembly to
the distal sheath, the first shaft at least partially surrounding
the inner shaft, and an outer shaft connecting the frame to the
first shaft and at least partially surrounding the inner shaft.
17. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the operating handle
further includes a mechanism adapted to move the inner shaft
proximally relative to the carriage assembly.
18. The delivery device of claim 17, wherein the mechanism includes
a threaded rod operatively connected to the inner shaft and
extending in the longitudinal direction, and a nut threadedly
engaged with the threaded rod and longitudinally constrained
relative to the carriage assembly.
19. A method of delivering a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in
a patient, the method comprising: providing a delivery device
having a catheter assembly and an operating handle, the catheter
assembly including a compartment adapted to receive the valve in an
assembled condition, the operating handle including a frame, a
carriage assembly moveable in first and second opposite
longitudinal directions, a coupler, and a deployment actuator
constrained relative to the coupler in the longitudinal directions,
the coupler operatively coupling the carriage assembly to the
frame; loading the valve into the compartment of the catheter
assembly, the compartment and the valve being covered by a distal
sheath of the catheter assembly; rotating the deployment actuator
to move the carriage assembly of the operating handle relative to
the coupler and the frame in a first longitudinal direction, while
the coupler is in a locked condition in which the coupler is
connected to the frame in a fixed position; and unlocking the
coupler from the frame and translating the coupler together with
the carriage assembly to continue movement of the carriage assembly
in the first longitudinal direction.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the coupler is selectively
lockable to the frame in any of a plurality of fixed positions in
the first longitudinal direction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to prosthetic heart valve
replacement, and more particularly to devices, systems, and methods
for transcatheter delivery of collapsible prosthetic heart
valves.
Prosthetic heart valves that are collapsible to a relatively small
circumferential size can be delivered into a patient less
invasively than valves that are not collapsible. For example, a
collapsible valve may be delivered into a patient via a tube-like
delivery apparatus such as a catheter, a trocar, a laparoscopic
instrument, or the like. This collapsibility can avoid the need for
a more invasive procedure such as full open-chest, open-heart
surgery.
Collapsible prosthetic heart valves typically take the form of a
valve structure mounted on a stent. There are two types of stents
on which the valve structures are ordinarily mounted: a
self-expanding stent and a balloon-expandable stent. To place such
valves into a delivery apparatus and ultimately into a patient, the
valve must first be collapsed or crimped to reduce its
circumferential size.
When a collapsed prosthetic valve has reached the desired implant
site in the patient (e.g., at or near the annulus of the patient's
heart valve that is to be replaced by the prosthetic valve), the
prosthetic valve can be deployed or released from the delivery
apparatus and re-expanded to full operating size. For
balloon-expandable valves, this generally involves releasing the
entire valve, assuring its proper location, and then expanding a
balloon positioned within the valve stent. For self-expanding
valves, on the other hand, the stent automatically expands as the
sheath covering the valve is withdrawn.
In conventional delivery systems for self-expanding aortic valves,
for example, after the delivery system has been positioned for
deployment, the annulus end of the valve is typically unsheathed
and expanded first, while the aortic end of the valve remains
sheathed. Once the annulus end of the valve has expanded, it may be
determined that the valve needs to be repositioned in the patient's
aortic annulus. To accomplish this, a user (such as a surgeon or an
interventional cardiologist) typically resheathes the annulus end
of the valve, so that the valve can be repositioned while in a
collapsed state. After the valve has been repositioned, the user
can again release the valve.
Once a self-expanding valve has been fully deployed, it expands to
a diameter larger than that of the sheath that previously contained
the valve in the collapsed condition, making resheathing
impossible, or difficult at best. In order for the user to be able
to resheathe a partially-deployed valve, a portion of the valve
must still be collapsed inside of the sheath.
Despite the various improvements that have been made to the
collapsible prosthetic heart valve delivery process, conventional
delivery devices, systems, and methods suffer from some
shortcomings. For example, in conventional delivery devices for
self-expanding valves, it is difficult to control how much of the
valve remains in the sheath during a partial deployment, and the
user may accidentally deploy the valve fully before verifying that
the annulus end of the valve is in the optimal position in the
patient's valve annulus, thereby taking away the opportunity to
resheathe and reposition the valve.
There therefore is a need for further improvements to the devices,
systems, and methods for transcatheter delivery of collapsible
prosthetic heart valves, and in particular, self-expanding
prosthetic heart valves. Among other advantages, the present
invention may address one or more of these needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve and a
method of delivering a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in a
patient are disclosed.
A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes
an operating handle, including a frame defining a movement space
therein, a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction
within the movement space, and a coupler having a locked condition
in which the coupler is connected to the frame in a fixed position,
and an unlocked condition in which the coupler is movable in the
longitudinal direction within the movement space, the coupler being
operatively connected to the carriage assembly for movement
therewith. The delivery device also includes a catheter assembly,
including a first shaft around which a compartment is defined, the
first shaft being operatively connected to one of the frame or the
carriage assembly, the compartment being adapted to receive the
valve in an assembled condition, and a distal sheath operatively
connected to the carriage assembly, the distal sheath being
moveable between a closed condition adapted to maintain the valve
in the assembled condition and an open condition adapted to fully
deploy the valve, wherein movement of the carriage assembly in the
longitudinal direction in the movement space moves the distal
sheath between the closed condition and the open condition.
The coupler may be selectively lockable to the frame in any of a
plurality of fixed positions in the longitudinal direction. The
coupler may include a releasable pin and the frame may have a
plurality of fixed notches, the pin being engageable in one of the
notches to lock the coupler to the frame. The coupler may be
selectively lockable to the frame in positions that correspond to
positions of the distal sheath between the closed condition and the
open condition. The operating handle may further include a threaded
rod extending from the carriage assembly through the coupler, and a
deployment actuator threadedly engaged with the threaded rod and
longitudinally constrained relative to the coupler, such that
rotation of the deployment actuator may move the carriage assembly
in the longitudinal direction in the movement space. Rotation of
the deployment actuator in a first direction may move the carriage
assembly proximally in the longitudinal direction in the movement
space, and rotation of the deployment actuator in a second
direction opposite the first direction may move the carriage
assembly distally in the longitudinal direction in the movement
space.
The delivery device may further include a latch mechanism adapted
to releasably fix the coupler relative to the frame at any of a
plurality of longitudinal positions in the movement space. The
operating handle may further include a resheathing lock having a
locked position and an unlocked position, the resheathing lock in
the locked position limiting movement of the carriage assembly in
the longitudinal direction to a stop position in the movement
space, and the resheathing lock in the unlocked position permitting
movement of the carriage assembly beyond the stop position, wherein
movement of the carriage assembly to the stop position may move the
distal sheath to a condition between the closed condition and the
open condition so that the valve is not fully deployed. The frame
may include a slot and the resheathing lock may include a
retractable pin that is engaged in the slot when the resheathing
lock is in the locked position, and a stop member located within
the slot may define the stop position. The stop member may be
longitudinally moveable within the slot, such that movement of the
stop member may change the location of the stop position relative
to the frame.
The compartment may have a first length and the stop position in
the movement space may correspond to a travel distance of the
carriage assembly, the travel distance being less than the first
length. The collapsible prosthetic heart valve may have a second
length and the travel distance may be between about 80% and about
90% of the second length. The first shaft may be operatively
connected to the frame, the catheter assembly further including an
outer shaft connecting the carriage assembly to the distal sheath
and at least partially surrounding the first shaft. The first shaft
may be operatively connected to the frame, and the operating handle
may further include a mechanism adapted to move the first shaft
proximally relative to the frame. The mechanism may include a
threaded rod operatively connected to the first shaft and extending
in the longitudinal direction, and a nut threadedly engaged with
the threaded rod and longitudinally constrained relative to the
frame.
The first shaft may be operatively connected to the carriage
assembly, the catheter assembly further including an outer shaft
connecting the frame to the compartment and at least partially
surrounding the first shaft. The first shaft may be operatively
connected to the carriage assembly, and the operating handle may
further include a mechanism adapted to move the first shaft
proximally relative to the carriage assembly. The mechanism may
include a threaded rod operatively connected to the first shaft and
extending in the longitudinal direction, and a nut threadedly
engaged with the threaded rod and longitudinally constrained
relative to the carriage assembly.
A method of delivering a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in a
patient includes providing a delivery device having a catheter
assembly and an operating handle, the catheter assembly including a
compartment adapted to receive the valve in an assembled condition,
the operating handle including a frame defining a movement space
therein, a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction
within the movement space, and a coupler operatively connected to
the carriage assembly for movement therewith. The method also
includes loading the valve into the compartment of the catheter
assembly, the compartment and the valve being covered by a distal
sheath of the catheter assembly, inserting the catheter assembly
into the patient, positioning the valve at a target location within
the patient, partially deploying the valve by moving the carriage
assembly of the operating handle in a first longitudinal direction
along a first portion of the movement space, and fully deploying
the valve by translating the coupler of the operating handle to
continue movement of the carriage assembly in the first
longitudinal direction along a second portion of the movement
space.
The operating handle may further include a threaded rod extending
from the carriage assembly through the coupler, and a deployment
actuator threadedly engaged with the threaded rod and
longitudinally constrained relative to the coupler, and the
partially deploying step may include rotating the deployment
actuator. The operating handle may further include a resheathing
lock having a locked position and an unlocked position, the
resheathing lock in the locked position limiting movement of the
carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction to a stop location
in the movement space, the resheathing lock in the unlocked
position permitting movement of the carriage assembly beyond the
stop location. The method may further include adjusting a position
of the resheathing lock in the longitudinal direction to set the
stop location in the movement space. The method may further include
resheathing the valve by moving the carriage assembly in a second
longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal
direction.
The catheter assembly may further include a first shaft around
which the compartment is defined and an outer shaft connecting the
carriage assembly to the distal sheath and at least partially
surrounding the first shaft, the first shaft may be operatively
connected to the frame, the distal sheath may be operatively
connected to the carriage assembly, and the steps of partially
deploying the valve and fully deploying the valve may each include
moving the outer shaft proximally relative to the frame. The
catheter assembly may further include a first shaft around which
the compartment is defined, the first shaft may be operatively
connected to the frame, the distal sheath may be operatively
connected to the carriage assembly, and the resheathing step may
include moving the first shaft proximally relative to the frame and
the distal sheath.
The operating handle may further include a threaded rod operatively
connected to the first shaft and extending in the longitudinal
direction, and a nut threadedly engaged with the threaded rod and
longitudinally constrained relative to the frame, and the step of
moving the first shaft may include rotating the nut about the
threaded rod. The operating handle may further include a
resheathing lock having a locked position and an unlocked position,
the resheathing lock in the locked position limiting movement of
the carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction to a stop
location in the movement space, the resheathing lock in the
unlocked position permitting movement of the carriage assembly
beyond the stop location, and the step of moving the first shaft
may be performed with the resheathing lock in the locked
position.
The catheter assembly may further include a first shaft around
which the compartment is defined and an outer shaft connecting the
frame to the compartment and at least partially surrounding the
first shaft, the first shaft and the distal sheath may be
operatively connected to the carriage assembly, and the steps of
partially deploying the valve and fully deploying the valve may
each include moving the first shaft distally relative to the frame.
The catheter assembly may further include a first shaft around
which the compartment is defined, the first shaft and the distal
sheath may be operatively connected to the carriage assembly, and
the resheathing step may include moving the first shaft proximally
relative to the carriage assembly.
The operating handle may further include a threaded rod operatively
connected to the first shaft and extending in the longitudinal
direction, and a nut threadedly engaged with the threaded rod and
longitudinally constrained relative to the carriage assembly, and
the step of moving the first shaft may include rotating the nut
about the threaded rod. The operating handle may further include a
resheathing lock having a locked position and an unlocked position,
the resheathing lock in the locked position limiting movement of
the carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction to a stop
location in the movement space, the resheathing lock in the
unlocked position permitting movement of the carriage assembly
beyond the stop location, and the step of moving the first shaft
may be performed with the resheathing lock in the locked position.
The target location within the patient may be the native aortic
annulus of the patient. The distal sheath of the delivery device
may be inserted through a femoral artery of the patient. The distal
sheath of the delivery device may be inserted through the apex of
the heart of the patient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the appended drawings. It is appreciated that
these drawings depict only some embodiments of the invention and
are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating handle for a
transfemoral delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart
valve, shown with a side elevation of the distal portion of a
transfemoral catheter assembly;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a portion of the handle
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view of another portion of the
handle of FIG. 1, with portions removed to illustrate the interior
thereof; and
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of an operating handle for a
transapical delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart
valve, shown with a side elevation of the distal portion of a
transapical catheter assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As used herein, the terms "proximal" and "distal" are to be taken
as relative to a user using the disclosed delivery devices.
"Proximal" is to be understood as relatively close to the user and
"distal" is to be understood as relatively farther away from the
user.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 to illustrate the structure and
function of the present invention, an exemplary transfemoral
delivery device 10 for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve (or
other types of self-expanding collapsible stents) has a catheter
assembly 16 for delivering the heart valve to and deploying the
heart valve at a target location, and an operating handle 20 for
controlling deployment of the valve from the catheter assembly. The
delivery device 10 extends from a proximal end 12 to a distal tip
14. The catheter assembly 16 is adapted to receive a collapsible
prosthetic heart valve (not shown) in a compartment 23 defined
around an inner shaft 26 and covered by a distal sheath 24.
The inner shaft 26 extends through the operating handle 20 to the
distal tip 14 of the delivery device, and includes a retainer 25
affixed thereto at a spaced distance from distal tip 14 and adapted
to hold a collapsible prosthetic valve in the compartment 23.
The distal sheath 24 surrounds the inner shaft 26 and is slidable
relative to the inner shaft such that it can selectively cover or
uncover the compartment 23. The distal sheath 24 is affixed at its
proximal end to an outer shaft 22, the proximal end of which is
connected to the operating handle 20 in a manner to be described.
The distal end 27 of the distal sheath 24 abuts the distal tip 14
when the distal sheath is fully covering the compartment 23, and is
spaced apart from the distal tip 14 when the compartment 23 is at
least partially uncovered.
The operating handle 20 is adapted to control deployment of a
prosthetic valve located in the compartment 23 by permitting a user
to selectively slide the outer shaft 22 proximally or distally
relative to the inner shaft 26, thereby respectively uncovering or
covering the compartment with the distal sheath 24. The proximal
end of the inner shaft 26 is operatively coupled to an outer frame
30 of the operating handle 20 (the longitudinal position of the
inner shaft relative to the frame can be adjusted, as described
below), and the proximal end of the outer shaft 22 is affixed to a
carriage assembly 40 of the operating handle that is slidable along
a longitudinal axis of the frame, such that a user can selectively
slide the outer shaft relative to the inner shaft by sliding the
carriage assembly relative to the frame.
A hemostasis valve 28 includes an internal gasket adapted to create
a seal between the inner shaft 26 and the proximal end of the outer
shaft 22. A gasket adjustment wheel 42 in the carriage assembly 40
is adapted to adjust the strength of this seal. For example, the
gasket inside the hemostasis valve 28 may be in the shape of an
O-ring located around the inner shaft 26, or between the O-ring and
the inner surface of the outer shaft 22. When the strength of the
seal is insufficient, there may be a gap between the O-ring and the
outer surface of the inner shaft 26, and/or between the O-ring and
the inner surface of the outer shaft 22. To eliminate this gap, a
user can turn the gasket adjustment wheel 42 to place a compressive
force on the O-ring in the longitudinal direction of the inner
shaft 26, thereby compressing the O-ring longitudinally and
expanding the O-ring radially. The radially-expanded O-ring can
fill any gap between the O-ring and the outer surface of the inner
shaft 26 or the inner surface of the outer shaft 22, thereby
creating a liquid-proof seal therebetween.
The frame 30 includes a pair of side rails 31 joined at the
proximal end 12 by a proximal end member 32 and joined at the
distal end by a distal end member 33. Collectively, the side rails
31, the end member 32, and the end member 33 define an elongated
space 34 in the frame 30 in which the carriage assembly 40 may
travel. The elongated space 34 preferably permits the carriage
assembly 40 to travel a distance that is at least as long as the
anticipated length of the prosthetic valve to be delivered (e.g.,
at least about 50 mm), such that the distal sheath 24 can be fully
retracted from around the prosthetic valve. An enlarged bore 35 in
the end member 33 is sized to freely and slidingly receive a
threaded rod 36 extending from the distal end of the carriage
assembly 40, as described below. The enlarged bore 35 has a smooth
interior surface and an inner diameter slightly larger than the
outer diameter of the threaded rod 36 (a longitudinal cross-section
of the threaded rod positioned inside of the enlarged bore is shown
in FIG. 2).
The carriage assembly 40 includes a main body 41 and the threaded
rod 36 extending distally therefrom along the longitudinal axis of
the frame 30. The threaded rod 36 preferably is longer than the
anticipated maximum travel distance of the carriage assembly 40
within the elongated space 34 (e.g., at least about 50 mm), such
that the threaded rod 36 does not fully withdraw from the enlarged
bore 35 during deployment of the prosthetic valve.
A coupler 60 includes a top member 61 and a bottom member 62 joined
to one another so as to define a pair of channels 70 extending
longitudinally therebetween, the channels being sized and shaped to
slidingly receive the side rails 31 of the frame 30 therethrough.
The lateral sides 66 of the coupler 60 may include
vertically-extending ridges 67 to facilitate grasping and moving of
the coupler. The top member 61 and the bottom member 62 further
define a central bore 71 extending longitudinally therebetween and
sized to freely and slidingly receive the threaded rod 36
therethrough, as well as a pocket 72 extending vertically
therethrough for receiving a deployment actuator 21 in threaded
engagement with the threaded rod. The pocket 72 is sized and shaped
to receive the deployment actuator 21 with minimal clearance, such
that the deployment actuator remains substantially fixed relative
to the coupler 60 as it is rotated on the threaded rod 36. That is,
rotation of the deployment actuator 21 in one direction (either
clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the orientation of the
threads on the threaded rod 36) causes the threaded rod 36 to move
proximally within the central bore 71, at the same time pushing the
carriage assembly 40 proximally through the elongated space 34.
Similarly, rotation of the deployment actuator 21 in the opposite
direction causes the threaded rod 36 to move distally within the
central bore 71, at the same time pulling the carriage assembly
distally through the elongated space 34.
The coupler 60 may include a pair of locking members 80 positioned
on opposite lateral sides 66 thereof. Each locking member 80 may be
slidably received in a socket 73 extending laterally inward from
the lateral sides 66 of the coupler 60 to an end surface 68. The
locking members 80 are biased laterally outward from the lateral
sides 66 by a spring 81 positioned between the inner end of the
locking member and the end surface 68 of the socket 73. A pin 83
extending upward from each locking member 80 is sized to be
selectively engaged in one of a plurality of notches 37 formed in
an inner surface 39 of each side rail 31. The engagement of the
pins 83 in the notches 37 locks the coupler 60 and the deployment
actuator 21 to the frame 30, so as to permit rotation of the
deployment actuator in both directions without translation of same
within the space 34. Simultaneously depressing both locking members
80 against the bias of the springs 81 causes the pins 83 to move
out of engagement with the notches 37, thereby freeing the coupler
60 and the deployment actuator 21 to move longitudinally relative
to the frame 30.
The capability of the deployment actuator 21 to become
longitudinally constrained relative to the frame 30 may provide a
user with the ability to carefully control movement of the carriage
assembly 40 both proximally within the space 34 during a valve
deployment operation, and distally within the space 34 during a
resheathing operation, as described more fully below. The
capability of the deployment actuator 21 to freely move
longitudinally relative to the frame 30 enables gross movement of
the carriage assembly 40 proximally or distally within the space 34
without the mechanical advantage provided by the deployment
actuator. Such movement is not easily controllable, but rather is
subject to the "touch and feel" of the user.
The carriage assembly 40 may include a resheathing lock adapted to
limit the longitudinal movement of the carriage assembly within the
outer frame 30, thereby preventing a user from completing the
deployment of a prosthetic valve when unintended. The resheathing
lock includes a control member 50 that is longitudinally slidable
in a slot 46 between a distal position (shown in FIG. 1) and a
proximal position (not shown).
The control member 50 is operatively coupled to a pin 51 that
projects laterally through an aperture 48 in the main body 41 of
the carriage assembly 40. With the carriage assembly 40 in its
initial position (shown in FIG. 1), the aperture 48 may be aligned
with the distal end 38' of a longitudinally extending slot 38 in
the side rail 31 of the frame 30, or the aperture may be aligned
with another location within the slot (e.g., in FIG. 2, the
aperture is aligned with a location near the center of the slot).
When the control member 50 is in its distalmost position (shown in
FIG. 1), the pin 51 will extend through the aperture 48 and into
the slot 38. Such condition will enable the carriage assembly 40 to
move longitudinally within the frame 30 between an initial position
at which the distal end of the carriage assembly contacts the
coupler 60 and a position at which the pin 51 contacts a stop
member 52 that is longitudinally adjustable within the slot, as
discussed below. In the initial position, the pin 51 may contact
the distal end 38' of the slot 38 or may be spaced therefrom by a
predetermined distance. Movement of the control member 50
proximally causes the pin 51 to move laterally inward until the pin
is no longer engaged in the slot 38. This action thus frees the
carriage assembly 40 for further proximal movement relative to the
frame 30, thereby permitting full deployment of a prosthetic valve
from the compartment 23.
While essentially any mechanism usable for controlling lateral
retraction of a pin can be used to operatively couple the control
member 50 to the pin 51 described herein, example cam-based
mechanisms that can be employed are discussed in greater detail in
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/376,425, filed on
Aug. 24, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
An initial distance D1 that the carriage assembly 40 can travel
before being limited by the stop member 52 may be adjustable. That
is, the stop member 52 may be fixed to the side rail 31 of the
frame 30 by screws 53 extending through a longitudinally extending
slot 54 in the side rail. By loosening the screws 53, the stop
member 52 may be slid proximally or distally within slot 38 to a
desired position, at which the screws may be retightened to lock
the stop member in place.
The initial distance D1 that the carriage assembly 40 can travel
before being limited by the stop member 52 may depend on the
structure of the particular prosthetic valve to be deployed.
Preferably, the initial travel distance D1 of the carriage assembly
40 is about 3 mm to about 5 mm less than the crimped valve length.
Alternatively, the initial travel distance D1 of the carriage
assembly 40 may be about 40 mm to about 45 mm, which is about 80%
to about 90% of the length of an exemplary 50 mm valve. In other
arrangements, the initial distance D1 that the carriage assembly 40
can travel can be determined as a percentage of the length of the
prosthetic valve and/or the compartment 23, including, for example,
50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 85%, or 95%.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the proximal end member 32 of the frame 30
has an inside frame wall 90 that defines the proximal end of the
elongated space 34, and an outside frame wall 91 that defines the
proximal end 12 of the delivery device 10. The proximal end member
32 includes a central bore 92 extending longitudinally therethrough
between the inside frame wall 90 and the outside frame wall 91 and
sized to freely and slidingly receive a threaded rod 94
therethrough. A pocket 93 extends vertically through the proximal
end member 32 for receiving a shaft adjustment nut 99 in threaded
engagement with the threaded rod 94. The pocket 93 is sized and
shaped to receive the shaft adjustment nut 99 with minimal
clearance, such that the shaft adjustment nut remains substantially
fixed relative to the frame 30 as it rotates on the threaded rod
94. Accordingly, rotation of the shaft adjustment nut 99 in one
direction (either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on the
orientation of the threads on the threaded rod 94) causes the
threaded rod 94 to move proximally within the central bore 92, and
rotation of the shaft adjustment nut 99 in the opposite direction
causes the threaded rod 94 to move distally within the central bore
92.
The threaded rod 94 has an interior bore 95 extending
longitudinally therethrough. A distal portion 96 of the bore 95 has
an inner diameter equal to or slightly larger than the outer
diameter of the inner shaft 26. A proximal portion 97 of the bore
95 has an inner diameter equal to or slightly larger than a hub 19
fixed to the proximal end of the inner shaft 26. An annular rib 29
extending around the inner shaft 26 may be captured within an
annular groove 98 formed in the distal portion 96 of the bore 95 to
fix the inner shaft 26 longitudinally to the threaded rod 94. As a
result, as the threaded rod 94 moves longitudinally upon rotation
of the shaft adjustment nut 99, the inner shaft 26 will move
longitudinally along with it.
The operation of the present invention to deploy a prosthetic valve
will now be described. To load the delivery device 10 with a
collapsible prosthetic valve, a user can retract the distal sheath
24 to expose the compartment 23, place the valve around the inner
shaft 26, couple the proximal end of the valve to the retainer 25,
compresses or crimp the valve, and slide the distal sheath 24 over
the compartment, which holds the valve in a compressed state. In
this starting condition, the handle 20 will be in an initial state
with the carriage assembly 40 at its distalmost position within the
frame 30, the resheathing lock will be in its locked position to
prevent full deployment, and the coupler 60 will be at its
distalmost position within the frame.
To use the operating handle 20 to deploy a prosthetic valve that
has been compressed and inserted in the compartment 23 and covered
by the distal sheath 24, a user may rotate the deployment actuator
21, causing the carriage assembly 40 to slide proximally within the
elongated space 34 in the frame 30. Because the distal sheath 24 is
affixed to the outer shaft 22, which in turn is affixed to the
carriage assembly 40, and because the inner shaft 26 is fixed to
the frame 30 (although the longitudinal position of the inner shaft
relative to the frame can be adjusted, as described above), sliding
the carriage assembly proximally relative to the frame will retract
the distal sheath proximally from the compartment 23, thereby
exposing and initiating deployment of the valve located
therein.
It will be appreciated that the user may initiate the deployment
process without use of the deployment actuator 21 by simply
squeezing the locking members 80 inwardly towards one another to
release the coupler 60, and simultaneously pulling the coupler
proximally within the frame 30. As the coupler 60 is pulled
proximally within the frame 30, the linking of the coupler to the
carriage assembly 40 through the threaded rod 36 and the deployment
actuator 21 results in a concomitant proximal movement of the
carriage assembly. Such action requires significant pulling force
in order to overcome the frictional forces acting on the outer
shaft 22 and the distal sheath 24. For that reason, the use of the
deployment actuator 21 to begin retracting the distal sheath 24 is
preferred since such use provides the user with a mechanical
advantage to overcome the aforementioned frictional forces, thereby
providing the user with much greater control of the deployment
process.
After the distal sheath 24 has been partially retracted from the
compartment 23, the portion of the prosthetic valve that includes
tissue may be fully exposed, so that the frictional forces acting
between the valve and the distal sheath are greatly reduced. At
this point, it is preferred that the user continue the deployment
process without use of the deployment actuator 21 by squeezing the
locking members 80 inwardly towards one another while pulling the
coupler 60 and the carriage assembly 40 proximally within the frame
30. Although the user will not have a mechanical advantage without
using the deployment actuator 21 to move the carriage assembly 40
proximally, continuing the deployment process while squeezing the
locking members 80 may allow such process to be completed more
quickly.
In any event, since the resheathing lock is in the locked position,
movement of the carriage assembly 40 proximally may continue only
until the pin 55 contacts the stop member 52. At this point, the
distal sheath 24 will not be fully withdrawn from the compartment
23, and the prosthetic valve will not be fully deployed.
When the deployment procedure has reached this juncture, the user
can evaluate the position of the valve and determine whether the
annulus end of the valve is properly aligned relative to the
patient's aortic annulus. If repositioning is desired, the user may
resheathe the valve by rotating the deployment actuator 21 in the
direction opposite that used for deployment. Such rotation will
cause the threaded rod 36 to progress distally through the
deployment actuator 21 until the carriage assembly 40 has reached
the starting condition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereby moving the
distal sheath 24 distally over the compartment 23 and the partially
deployed valve and recollapsing the expanded part of the valve.
With the valve resheathed, the user can reposition the delivery
device 10 and commence the deployment procedure once again.
If, during deployment, the coupler 60 has been moved proximally
away from the distal end member 33 of the frame 30, it will be
appreciated that the user may partially or fully resheathe the
valve without use of the deployment actuator 21 by simply squeezing
the locking members 80 inwardly towards one another to release the
coupler 60, and simultaneously pushing the coupler distally within
the frame 30. As the coupler 60 is pushed distally within frame 30,
the linking of the coupler to the carriage assembly results in a
concomitant distal movement of the carriage assembly. Such action
requires significant pushing force in order to overcome the
frictional forces acting on the outer shaft 22 and the distal
sheath 24, as well as the resilient forces which expand the stent
portion of the valve. For that reason, the use of the deployment
actuator 21 to replace the distal sheath 24 over the compartment 23
is preferred since such use provides the user with a mechanical
advantage to overcome the aforementioned forces.
If, during deployment, the user has partially deployed and then
resheathed the valve, the outer shaft 22 and/or the inner shaft 26
may have become temporarily or permanently deformed, such that the
respective distal ends thereof may be longitudinally displaced
relative to one another. During resheathing, the aforementioned
frictional forces will tend to longitudinally compress the outer
shaft 22 and stretch the inner shaft 26, for example, by a total
length distributed between the inner and outer shafts of about 3 mm
to about 10 mm. Such permanent deformation of these components may
result in an inability of the distal sheath 24 to completely cover
the compartment 23 such that the distal end 27 of the distal sheath
may not extend far enough to abut the distal tip 14.
To adjust the relative longitudinal positions of the distal tip 14
and the distal sheath 24, the user may rotate the shaft adjustment
nut 99, causing the threaded rod 94 and the inner shaft 26 affixed
thereto to slide proximally relative to the frame 30. Because the
distal sheath 24 is connected to the outer shaft 22 which, in turn,
is connected to the inner carriage 40 and thus fixed relative to
the frame 30, and because the distal tip 14 is connected to the
inner shaft 26, sliding the inner shaft proximally relative to the
frame will slide the distal tip proximally relative to the distal
sheath, which may continue until the distal tip contacts the distal
end 27 of the distal sheath and the compartment 23 is completely
covered.
Once the valve has been properly positioned relative to the aortic
annulus, the user may complete the deployment process. To do so,
the user slides the control member 50 of the resheathing lock from
the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby retracting
the pin 51 so that the carriage assembly 40 is free to continue its
movement proximally beyond the stop member 52. The user can
continue to slide the carriage assembly 40 proximally to complete
the deployment of the valve by rotating the deployment actuator 21
or by squeezing the locking members 80 inwardly towards one another
while grasping the coupler 60 and pulling same proximally within
the frame 30. When the valve is unsheathed, the stent portion of
the valve self-expands and is disengaged from the retainer 25,
thereby releasing the valve from the catheter assembly 16.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary transapical delivery device
110 for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve (or other types of
self-expanding collapsible stents) has a catheter assembly 116 for
delivering the heart valve to and deploying the heart valve at a
target location, and an operating handle 120 for controlling
deployment of the valve from the catheter assembly. The delivery
device 110 extends from a proximal end 112 to a distal tip 114. The
catheter assembly 116 is adapted to receive a collapsible
prosthetic heart valve (not shown) in a compartment 123 defined
around a tubular support shaft 121 and covered by a distal sheath
124.
The support shaft 121 extends between a pair of spaced retainers
125 and 127 affixed thereto and defining the ends of the
compartment 123. A collapsible prosthetic valve may be assembled
around the support shaft 121 and between the retainers 125 and 127
in the compartment 123.
The distal sheath 124 surrounds the support shaft 121 and is
slidable relative to the support shaft such that it can selectively
cover or uncover the compartment 123. The distal sheath 124 is
affixed at its distal end to the distal tip 114, and its proximal
end 129 abuts the retainer 127 when the distal sheath is fully
covering the compartment 123, as shown in FIG. 4. The proximal end
129 of the distal sheath 124 is spaced apart from the retainer 127
when the compartment 123 is at least partially uncovered.
The delivery device further includes an outer shaft 122, the
proximal end of which is connected to the operating handle 120, and
the distal end of which is connected to the retainer 127. An inner
shaft 126 extends through the operating handle 120 and the support
shaft 121 to the distal tip 114. The connection of the distal
sheath 124 to the distal tip 114 thus enables the inner shaft 126
to control the movement of the distal sheath both proximally and
distally.
The operating handle 120 is adapted to control deployment of a
prosthetic valve located in the compartment 123 by permitting a
user to selectively slide the inner shaft 126 and the attached
distal sheath 124 distally or proximally relative to the support
shaft 121, thereby respectively uncovering or covering the
compartment with the distal sheath. The proximal end of the outer
shaft 122 is connected to an outer frame 130 of the operating
handle 120, and the proximal end of the inner shaft 126 is
connected to a carriage assembly 140 of the operating handle that
is slidable along a longitudinal axis of the frame (although the
longitudinal position of the inner shaft relative to the carriage
assembly can be adjusted, as described below), such that a user can
selectively slide the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft by
sliding the carriage assembly relative to the frame. A hemostasis
valve 128 provides an internal gasket adapted to create a seal
between the inner shaft 126 and the proximal end of the outer shaft
122. The strength of this seal may be adjusted by a gasket
adjustment wheel 142 that functions in substantially the same
manner as the adjustment wheel 42 described above.
The frame 130 includes a pair of side rails 131 joined at the
proximal end 112 by an end member 132 and joined at the distal end
by an end member 133. Collectively, the side rails 131, the end
member 132, and the end member 133 define an elongated space 134 in
the frame 130 in which the carriage assembly 140 may travel. An
enlarged bore 135 in the proximal end member 132 is sized to freely
and slidingly receive a threaded rod (not shown in FIG. 4)
extending from the proximal end of the carriage assembly 140, as
described below. The carriage assembly 140 includes a main body 141
and the threaded rod extending proximally therefrom along the
longitudinal axis of the frame 130.
A coupler 160 may be configured in much the same manner as the
coupler 60 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, and the
locking members 180 included in the coupler 160 may have the same
structure and function as the locking members 80 described above.
That is, the locking members 180 may each include a pin (not shown)
that cooperates with the notches 137 formed on an inner surface 139
of each side rail 131 to lock the coupler 160 in a fixed
longitudinal position relative to the frame 130. However, the
coupler 160 is slidably engaged with the side rails 131 proximally
of the carriage assembly 140 and distally of the proximal end
member 132. A deployment actuator 121 located within a pocket 172
in the coupler 160 is threadedly engaged with the threaded rod
extending from the carriage assembly 140. Rotation of the
deployment actuator 121 in one direction (either clockwise or
counterclockwise depending on the orientation of the threads on the
threaded rod of the carriage assembly 140) causes the threaded rod
to move proximally within a central bore 171 of the coupler 160, at
the same time pulling the carriage assembly 140 proximally toward
the proximal end member 132. Similarly, rotation of the deployment
actuator 121 in the opposite direction causes the threaded rod of
the carriage assembly 140 to move distally within the central bore
171, at the same time pushing the carriage assembly distally
through the elongated space 134.
The operating handle 120 may also include a resheathing lock
mechanism for preventing the user from accidentally completing the
deployment of a valve located in the compartment 123. The
resheathing lock mechanism may include a resheathing lock member
155 that projects through the side rail 131 of the frame 130 and
into the elongated space 134 so as to obstruct the path of travel
of the carriage assembly 140 in the distal direction. As such, the
resheathing lock member 155 defines the initial distance that the
carriage assembly 140 may travel before full deployment of the
valve occurs. The resheathing lock member 155 may be moved to an
unlocked position by retracting the lock member by a sufficient
amount that it no longer protrudes into the space 134. With the
resheathing lock member 155 in the unlocked position, the carriage
assembly 140 may continue to move distally, thereby allowing for
full deployment of the valve. Optionally, the locking member 155
may be designed to be fully removable from the frame 130 and
disposable. Alternatively, the resheathing lock mechanism shown and
described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, or any other resheathing
lock mechanism having an appropriate configuration, may be
incorporated into the operating handle 120 in place of the
resheathing lock member 155.
The carriage assembly 140 has a longitudinal bore 192 extending
partially therethrough and sized to freely and slidingly receive a
threaded rod 194 therethrough. A pocket 193 extends vertically
through the carriage assembly 140 for receiving a shaft adjustment
nut 199 in threaded engagement with the threaded rod 194. The
pocket 193 is sized and shaped to receive the shaft adjustment nut
199 with minimal clearance, such that the shaft adjustment nut
remains substantially fixed relative to the frame 130 as it rotates
on the threaded rod 194. Accordingly, rotation of the shaft
adjustment nut 199 in one direction (either clockwise or
counterclockwise depending on the orientation of the threads on the
threaded rod 194) causes the threaded rod 194 to move proximally
within the bore 192, and rotation of the shaft adjustment nut 199
in the opposite direction causes the threaded rod 194 to move
distally within the bore 192. The threaded rod 194 has an interior
bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the bore being sized to
receive the proximal end of the inner shaft 126. The attachment of
the inner shaft 126 to the threaded rod 194 includes similar
structure as the attachment of the inner shaft 26 to the threaded
rod 94 described above.
The operation of the operating handle 120 to deploy a prosthetic
valve from the compartment 123 is similar to the operation of the
operating handle 20 described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
The user can rotate the deployment actuator 121 to slide the
carriage assembly 140 distally within the elongated space 134 in
the frame 130, which thereby pushes the distal sheath 124 distally
relative to the compartment 123 and exposes and initiates
deployment of the valve located therein.
After movement of the distal sheath 124 has partially revealed the
compartment 123, the user may continue the deployment process
without use of the deployment actuator 121 by squeezing the locking
members 180 inwardly towards one another to release the coupler
160, and simultaneously pushing the coupler distally within the
frame 130. As the coupler 160 is pushed distally within the frame
130, the linking of the coupler to the carriage assembly 140
through the threaded rod (not shown) and the deployment actuator
121 results in a concomitant distal movement of the carriage
assembly, and with it, the distal sheath 124. Similar to the
deployment process described above with reference to the operating
handle 20, completing the deployment process while squeezing the
locking members 180 may allow such process to be completed more
quickly.
Since the resheathing lock member 155 is in the locked position,
movement of the carriage assembly 140 distally may continue only
until the distal end of the carriage assembly contacts the lock
member. At this juncture, the distal sheath 124 will not be fully
withdrawn from the compartment 123, and the prosthetic valve will
not be fully deployed. Therefore, if the user desires to resheathe
and reposition the valve before full deployment, the user can do so
by rotating the deployment actuator 121 in the direction opposite
that used for deployment until the carriage assembly 140 contacts
the coupler 160.
If, during deployment, the user has partially deployed and then
resheathed the valve, the outer shaft 122 and/or the inner shaft
126 may have become temporarily or permanently deformed, such that
the respective distal ends thereof may be longitudinally displaced
relative to one another. Such permanent deformation of these
components may result in an inability of the distal sheath 124 to
completely cover the compartment 123 such that the proximal end 129
of the distal sheath may not extend far enough to abut the retainer
127.
To adjust the relative longitudinal positions of the retainer 127
and the distal sheath 124, the user may rotate the shaft adjustment
nut 199, causing the threaded rod 194 and the inner shaft 126
affixed thereto to slide proximally relative to the inner carriage
140. Because the distal sheath 124 is connected to the inner shaft
126 which, in turn, is connected to the inner carriage 140 and thus
fixed relative to the frame 130, and because the retainer 127 is
connected to the outer shaft 122 which is connected to the frame
130, sliding the inner shaft proximally relative to the frame will
slide the distal sheath proximally relative to the retainer 127,
which may continue until the proximal end 129 of the distal sheath
contacts the retainer and the compartment 123 is completely
covered.
Once the valve has been properly positioned, the deployment
operation may be completed by withdrawing the resheathing lock
member 155 to the unlocked position and moving the carriage
assembly 140 further distally until the valve is fully
deployed.
The operating handles described herein may be provided with a
deployment locking mechanism. Such a deployment locking mechanism
may prevent the accidental initiation of deployment by fixing the
carriage assembly to the frame while the lock is in a locked
position. Such a deployment lock may have a structure similar to
the deployment locks shown and described in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 61/376,425, filed on Aug. 24, 2010.
Although the operating handles have been described herein as having
one resheathing lock, any number of resheathing locks may be used,
with or without a deployment lock, resulting in any number of
stages in the deployment process. For example, there may be two,
three, four, five, six or more resheathing locks, which thus enable
the deployment procedure to be controlled incrementally. Such
multiple resheathing locks may have a structure similar to the
resheathing locks shown and described in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 61/376,425, filed on Aug. 24, 2010.
More particularly, if a user desires, for example, a two-stage
deployment process, a single resheathing lock may be used,
resulting in an unsheathing of perhaps about 80% to about 90% of
the valve in a first deployment stage, followed by an unsheathing
of the remaining about 10% to about 20% of the valve in a second
deployment stage.
If the user desires a three-stage deployment process, on the other
hand, a single resheathing lock may be used with a deployment lock,
resulting in a first deployment stage in which no deployment can
occur, a second deployment stage in which, for example, about 80%
to about 90% of the valve is unsheathed, and a third deployment
stage in which the remaining about 10% to about 20% of the valve is
unsheathed.
Still further, if the user desires a four-stage deployment process,
two resheathing locks may be used with a deployment lock, resulting
in a first deployment stage in which no deployment can occur, a
second deployment stage in which, for example, about 50% of the
valve is unsheathed, a third deployment stage in which, for
example, about 80% to about 90% of the valve is unsheathed, and a
fourth deployment stage in which the remaining about 10% to about
20% of the valve is unsheathed. This last process may be modified
to a three-stage deployment process by omitting the deployment lock
while keeping the two resheathing locks.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to
particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these
embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and
applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
It will be appreciated that the various dependent claims and the
features set forth therein can be combined in different ways than
presented in the initial claims. It will also be appreciated that
the features described in connection with individual embodiments
may be shared with others of the described embodiments.
* * * * *